Just Go, Mr. Bush. Please, Just Go.

President George W. Bush will be finally leaving Washington after what seemed an eternity. He will be leaving behind a country that is poorer, weaker, more polluted, more indebted, more divided and more unequal. He soiled the U.S. Constitution and breached the wall between Church and State.

The whole society is less scientifically literate and more ignorant now. There's more lead in children's toys, more people without health care, the trade imbalances and budget deficits are setting records, and the national debt is larger than ever. Unemployment hasn't been this high in decades. Millions of Americans have lost their homes, their jobs, and their children's futures.

Women have fewer reproductive rights than they did eight years ago and the federal courts are stacked against them. Bush's appointees to the Supreme Court don't even believe female corporate executives deserve pay equity.

"Clear Skies," "Healthy Forests," and "No Child Left Behind" were all Orwellian terms revealing Bush's contempt for the American people (or at least the American people who don't own a giant corporation). Under Bush, Americans have become a more blatantly propagandized people. He set up a Propaganda Ministry filled with "message force multipliers," "video news releases," phony "journalists," and payouts to favored media mouthpieces. Now Bush's handlers have embarked on their most audacious propaganda effort to date: The "Legacy Project."

Some people seem destined to spend their entire lives -- all the way to their death beds -- never once reflecting on their own misjudgments or how their own mistakes or insensitivity caused suffering for others. The nation has been ruled for eight long years by just such a clueless, narcissistic person.

There really is no such thing as a "legacy" for George W. Bush. The word suggests some kind of accomplishment, a bequest. The dictionary refers to "anything handed down from . . . an ancestor to a descendant." But Bush was such a terrible "steward" of our land, people, and institutions. An Epic Failure by every conceivable measure. Who among us can he call his "descendants?" Jenna and Barbara?

But we all must share in the blame. We failed our country. We twice elected this sorry specimen. The American people should be deeply ashamed that we were stupid enough and taken-in so thoroughly to elect and re-elect as chief executive this kind of a person.

It will happen again someday.

We might have eight years, or twelve, or maybe even sixteen if we're lucky, but we'll do it again; we'll elect another person just like George W. Bush.

Because I think Bush did truly embody something deep inside the American psyche and spirit, qualities that only the privileged bloodline of a settler state that once held slaves and slaughtered the indigenous population could produce. His swagger. His tough talk. His torture and imprisoning people. His warmongering and machismo. His smirk and pursed lips. His murdering the English language. His lies and his lies about lies. His ignorance. His "ranch." His cowboy boots. His blue jeans. His belt buckle. His torture. His warmongering. His Rummy. His Condi. His Gonzales. His "Mission Accomplished." His provincialism. His lack of compassion. His posturing. His Rove. His rigidity. His twang. His mother. His hatred. His immaturity. His petulance. His father. His grimace. His authoritarianism. His vice president. His selfishness. His ideology. His bullying. His elitism. His blue blood. His bible thumping. His racism. His cowardice. His incuriousness. His petulance. His lack of grace.

Bush killed a lot of people. Innocent people. He has a lot of blood on his hands. And he will remain oblivious to the suffering he caused. In some peculiar and twisted way he personified -- and reflected outward -- many of the darker impulses of our "American" civilization. The underlying forces that gave rise to Bush are lurking just beneath the surface of American politics. And by giving form to our worst tendencies George W. Bush has already sealed his "legacy."

Just Go, Mr. Bush. Please, Just Go.

Comments

[stevebehindthechapel]

HuffPost's Pick

This is our family 'legacy'.

My nephew enlisted in the Army, being sent to Iraq at age 18. He's your All-American kid; raised in a loving, Christian environment of a small Oregon town.

While on patrol, a grenade was lobbed into his Humvee. His squad escaped, my nephew didn't. His foot was blown apart, burns and shrapnel covering his legs. A tourniquet was applied, his buddies bringing him to safety. He was wrapped up and shipped stateside.

My sister visited him in the Army hospital in Texas. She described thousands of young men there from the war with every injury conceivable. My sister and nephew were moved from the hospital to another building due to overcrowding. My sister (and his fiance) cleaned his wounds due to nursing levels. An Army photographer took pictures of how well he was recovering due to his 'canine therapy' treatment, for Army-sponsored web sites.

Two weeks later, the same incident happened again. His squad did not survive. His best friends, the one who held his hand, the medic who saved his life, all perished; all young men of a similar, tender age. My nephew only survived because of the injury that sent him stateside.

He's not the same. Crippled, a year of surgeries, depression and nightmares, insufferable guilt and loss, confused.

William Blake said, from a slightly different perspective, "the road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom."

I-- and my dearest, nephew-- have arrived at that palace.

Peace.

[repblady]

Its very convenient to forget that this president has served in time that has seen our country attacked and over 2000 of its citizens killed. That changed his whole presidential direction. He then moved forward and acted on information that even the majority of high ranking democrats agreed was true. What were his poll numbers then? We were all backing him. Its hilarious to me that you blame every ill in the world today on President Bush!! I'm so thankful to have had him in the White House during these last eight years. I'm proud to say I voted for him twice and also voted for McCain and Palin.
He is a man of great character. Also, we do still have an all volunteer army. All of the soldiers and service people are there because they enlisted. I have had the priviledge to have spoken with a great many of them who have served in this war and they are very proud of their accomplishments. The military overwhelmingly supported Bush. I say to him and his family "Thank you" for your service!

[quiltlady4851]

Wow! Voted for him twice? And proud of it? Is this really Ann Coulter in disquise? I believe this blog is intended for

http://www.anncoulter.com

[JAMES GORMAN]

that column "just go" is absolutely the best hope for the best reasons: the writer fully describes every
misery inflicted upon us including ruination of the Constitution: name it, and any aspect of a society's
aspirations from government have been twisted and ruine. It is ghastly, and a tragic loss--and we
cannot be rid of this entire "epoch event" without a terrible price.
To see the old man Herbert Busho defending his mishapen branch is sick. The only omen there
is George I has been inserting Jeb's name into public view with careful but actual assurance.
There is no doubt: there can be a Bush III, and we are very likely to have him if our Owners, who ruined
the economy, can ruin Obama's prospects. They give every sign---from dear old Senator McConnell
on up---he is always at the base bottom for me. It is not a happy set of omens, and not a prospect for
a good year. Sorry. James Gorman, mere human

[Acebass]

I think we should add to the constitution that if a Presidents ratings hit the Bush legacy for over three months in a row, they should be asked to just leave the keys on the table and move...

[joycehelene]

I hope he is all packed and his belongings in the moving van along with his non-existing guests in Blair House, Great article Mr. Palermo, you said it all, there is nothing to add, just get that Bush guy out forever and tell his little Brother Jeb we don't want him either, the less I hear of that family the happier I will be. By the way, hope old Cheney is packed and also on his way, a nicer family is going to move into the Naval Observatory, thank goodness.

[Joseph A. Palermo - Huffpost Blogger]

I suppose things could be worse, he could have attacked Iran -- but Bush what I guess I was implying in my blog is that Bush comes from the same place in our collective culture as Reagan, Bush I, Newt Gingrich, Sean Hannity, Mitch McConnell, Tom DeLay, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, William Kristol, John Yoo and John Bolton, etc. So there's got to be something deeper going on here -- maybe most Americans really are just selfish, racist, greedy, horrible people?

[quiltlady4851]

It does seem like they all have the same mindset. So much hatred and "elitist" mindset. Maybe worth some media hound investigating?

[Joseph A. Palermo - Huffpost Blogger]

If you look closely at Senators Kyl, McConnell and Representatives Boehner and Blunt you're looking at America -- greedy, selfish, ugly, bigoted -- Bush was just a clear manifestation of this tendency. The radicals used to say, well if we get someone really evil and right wing, we'll energize the Left and move he country forward -- that might be where we're heading but the Republicans are obstructionists -- they studied Weimar and they know how to break a democracy, it's not hard to do because it requires good faith and comity -- Republicans can throw sand in the gears and I guarantee they will unless we really give it to them -- John Bolton and John Yoo have a jointly written op-ed in today's New York Times, both these men should be in prison for war crimes, not penning articles in the paper of record. William Kristol is also offering his "advice" to Obama on the same page -- wow! What will it take to repudiate these people????

[quiltlady4851]

Take away their media forum. But, that's all about money too, isn't it?

[theepoxyman]

WE did not elect him in 2000, he was appointed by the SCOTUS. He, therefore, could not by definition ever be "re-elected".
Please, all bloggers: Quit saying "WE" elected him. There are more than half of us who did not elect him. Perhaps you may not remember that he lost the popular vote in 2000, and the 2004 election was stolen in Ohio and Penn. by Di Bold.
In closing, WE did not elect him, not once, not ever.

[prudd]

Joe,
Thanks for your article.
I remember, maybe two years ago, an Imam stating that Bush was passive aggressive -- I think it was -- and marvelling that the Middle East produced the first voice who tried to clearly identify the sources of the president's behavior.

Your list of his faults is damning, and I think necessary to lift us out of our collective delusion. The idea that this personality comes directly from the spectre of slavery and the north american genocide of the native population is facinating and accurate. Bob Dylan called it the ghost of slavery's ship. It is an idea that will be resisted by successive generations even as it has been rejected by this one. Imagine the different life we would lead if we reconciled ourselves properly with these horrible events?

[Joseph A. Palermo - Huffpost Blogger]

Keep in mind that about 59 million people voted for John McCain and Sarah Palin despite the damage Bush has caused -- now that's what I call "faith based" politics. Please consider other attributes of Bush and share them with me in the comments -- this I think will be the last and final blog I dedicate to that horrible mass murdering monster.

[quiltlady4851]

Yes, the McCain-Palin support does take away the hope of intelligent voting, doesn't it? I guess "Have Party Will Travel" no matter who's driving the bus.

[quiltlady4851]

Bush's Presidency is an example of the voters in this country and their refusal to look at a candidate for what he REALLY was!! I know Republicans who voted for him the second time knowing that he was awful, but by God, he was a REPUBLICAN!!! Thank God, Americans have finally awakened to the fact that a party does NOT always run a good candidate. We need to LOOK HARD at who we vote for from now on and stop giving the PARTY a free pass. Just because the candidate is running in the party of our choice, does not mean they are qualified. Bush has proven that more than anyone and he took the Republicans down. This could happen to the Democrats too, if we vote PARTY LINE only!!!
LOOK AT THE CANDIDATE'S QUALIFICATIONS!!! Being born with a silver spoon in your mouth does not make you intelligent!!!

[allcreaturesulc]

AMEN!! I totally agree, but like others who have commented, I have to say I did not vote for Mr. Bush--Either time he ran. I thought he was a mistake the first time, knew it the second time and thank God he's finally going. Don't let the door hit you in the a(@*$, Mr. Bush!

[VegasBabe]

I voted against Bush in 2000 and again in 2004 so no, I don't accept any responsibility for his reign of fear and destruction. Never, ever before have Rethuglicans become so blatant with their r a c i s t positions, and that's not gonna change next week, next year or 50 years from now. Democrats however and especially those who struggle like myself often grow weary with politics and avoid the polls at election time. Let's hope this administration remains a wake-up call to what happens when we allow the wrong set into the WH.

[Figural]

All true. Well said. Thank you.

[blaqntelligence]

"....and dutiful common sense and responsibility-- for all of us. "

I agree and would like to add to the end of your sentence: "...From all of us".